Ombudsman

National leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu said on Tuesday that if the lawmakers of the ruling coalition "force" Renate Weber's being removed from office as the Ombudsman, the Social Democrats will challenge the decision with the Constitutional Court.

Ljubljana – The Equal Opportunities Ombudsman has appealed for tolerance in the wake of a paint balloon attack on a fresco of Ljubljana’s St Nicholas Cathedral, warning the act could count as discrimination.

Complaints to consumer protection authorities point to a major increase in the number of people disgruntled with the delays in courier deliveries, a trend recorded on social media since the first lockdown.

The Monitoring Group on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs in the European Parliament will discuss the situation in Bulgaria for the second time. The subcommittee meeting will be virtual, the BNR said.

More than 13,000 people have turned for help to the public defender in 2020, according to data provided by Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva. The statistics also show that 23,865 people have filed claims through collective complaints and petitions.

Western Balkans is setting an example 

Interior view of Agora building of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France. Photo: Wikimedia commons/Adrian Grycuk

Citizens' Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis on Wednesday denied allegations of police brutality.

"Figures do not confirm an increase [in police brutality], quite the opposite in fact," Chrysochoidis told Parliament.

The Ombudsman announced on Friday having requested the Ministry of Health to urgently regulate the situation of admissions to and surgeries at COVID-19 support hospitals.

Taxing special state pensions must be done in Parliament, because an emergency ordinance issued by the government to regulate the matter is open to being challenged by the Ombudsman with the Constitutional Court, National Liberal Party (PNL) floor leader in the Chamber of Deputies Florin Roman said on Wednesday.

Ukraine's human rights ombudswoman has appealed to authorities to find a solution for scores of infants born to surrogate mothers for foreign parents who are stranded because the country's borders are closed under coronavirus restrictions.